Fuel control system for internal combustion engines



M. R. HUTCHISON FUEL CONTROL SYSTEM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Ma y{23, 1933.

Filed Aug. 7, 1929 FBI INVENTOR.

M, Ma?

A TTORNEYS.

waisted May 9 l is eicerted over themixture of thecombustih n conron ia'i onfon ELAWARE fPATEN T. or FICE E. Y; iss aa ag :BY iiinsnn ssienivinnes,

ff j-uEl fhe];m'rnnniincomisesrion iineii ns i lppllcationdil edAugust 7,

rigThis invention relates toiin erovements in dfuelcontrol systems for controlling thefuel supplyof internal combustion engines,and with reference to more particular: features thereof it relates to improvements in fuel control systems wherein automatic control ble fuel. u a j Itis a general object of the invention to provide an improved means operating effectively and sui'elyf underuall Mconditions to minimize the tendencyof the internal combustion enginetowstall or stopprematurely when theifuelsupply isadjusted from rune ning condition under :load to an idling or starting condition;

w lltisna more particular-object of the inu ention to provide an improved automatic operating means foriadjusting the fuel mixture supplied to an internal combustion engine, from the running orliloadi condition thereof to the idling! or! starting i'condition whenever the. Ilfuel: yoontro'l throttle dais adjustediintovidling orstartingposition 11 A further obj eoti: ofyfithe invention is to provide in-a fuel supply; system of the, class mentioned, an improved arrangement whereby: the :fuel mixture 'fiSg, automatically adjusted to idling or starting value whenever the operator adj usts: the duel, supply to idling or starting value,: thus making it; 11nnecessary, forithe; operator-etc keep mindv the necessity; forj adjusting the fuel mixture for idling or starting,- and minimizing the; danger ofstalling the eng ne; -14? j 'A further andmorespecificlloiltiiulpoitant i t by the fuel imixture mayibe automatically adj-- justed to idling, on starting i value Wherever the fuel control throttle is adjusted to idling object of the invention is to; provide a in en,-

i gine fuel control systems, :havingii separate manual i or other, control 1 device; for controlling the fuel mixture to: adapt 1111/0 "running condition, an inproved arrangement where? or starting condition, thus; minimizing in a u Very impontant degree: the, tendency of, the

i engine to stall.

,Other ohjectsjof the "invention he; part pointed out in the following detailed a description of certain illustrative buti prefeatures :of construction combinations .Iof

i For a morecompleteunderstanding of the *nature, andobjects of the invention, referenceis had-to the following description of the "illustrative embodiments of the inin section for clearness of disclosure and a.

Fig. :2 -1s a sim lar elevation: showing a cated at *6 and .the carburetor is indicated at :slottedor bifurcated end 12. An operating 1 1929. Serial N0 384,085. 1 j,

ferred= embodiments of: 1 the invention, i and W111, be 1111133111 obvious in connection therewith. c i i The-invention accordingly comprises 'the elements, and arrangement of parts, which i will be exemplified in 'theiconstruction here inaftei set forth "and the scope oftlie application of which will {be indicated inthe claimsff i veiition, andbto the accompanying drawing} inwhich:

if i v It F ig. his a partially diagrammatic eleva-f tion-:sl1owing the invention asl'applie d to an internal combustion engine,- parts being i 71 A.:fuel;supply pipeSconductsthe fuel u-suchnasgasoline :from a suitable supply -:soiirce tothevcarburetor 7. These arts are shownrdiagramm'atically asrtheir orm and construction are Well known in the art and for the ipurposesf .of this invention'the particularformgthei-eof is not of? importance and: they nlay bevaried as desired in accordance with standard practice.

butterfly control; or throttle valye' 9 is 190 positioned ,within :the fuel passageway leading froin i the carhureton being-1 pivotally mounted uponaspindle 10 on the outer end of iwhich iigs fixed agrock arm; 11 having a lug orgis mounted uponthe main throttle rod lt extending into the slot of the operating leveror rock arm 11 to provide an operating connection forathrottle valve: The carburetor may be fitted with for sliding moveni'e'nt.

-motor vehicles and air craft.

and auxiliary valves.

intake manifold through the auxiliary air supply pipe. There is also a butterfly control valve 17 positioned inthe auxiliary air duct 15 being mounted upon a'spindle 18 which carries at its outer end an operatinglever or rock arm 19 having a slotted or bi furcated end 20, the slot of which receives :an operating lug? or pin 21 mountedupon an operating link 22.

The main throttle rod or operating link :14 for the throttle valve 9 is conveniently mounted concentrically with the auxiliary "operating link 22'shown as being in the form of a sleeve surrounding the link 14;

whereby these two operating links may slide longitudinally relatively to each other. A lower supporting bracket 23 is provided for the operating sleeve 22 having an apertured bearing 24C in which the sleeve is mounted A similar upper supportingbracket 25 is provided with. a similar apertured bearing 26 in which the upper end of the operating sleeve is -slidably received. The bracket 25 is shown asmountedupon a supporting base or control panel 27. The control panel is preferably positioned for readyaccess by the operator. In this connection it is to be observed that the drawing is somewhat diagrammatic and that the operating connections may be constructed and proportioned so that theco ntrol panel 27 may be adjacent to the operator while the carburetor is in a more or less remote position as in standard practice in Mounted upon the control panel is the main control'or throttle lever 28 pivotally mounted at. 29 and having a slotted or. bi-

furcated end 530, the slot of which receives an operatingfpin or lug 31 mounted upon the upperend of'the throttle rod: 14. A

'similaroperating lever 32 is provided for operating the sleeve link '22, being pivotally mounted at 33 upon the control panel and having a bifurcated or slotted end 84: connected tothe pin 35 mounted'upon the sleeve-link. Both operating levers 28 and 32 may be provided with pointers or indexes for moving over appropriate scales for indicating the positions of the throttle The upper end of the throttle link or rod 14 is threaded as indicated at 36 and a threaded nut 37 runs upon this thread. The nut 37 'fornisa lug or seat against which the position merely by turning the nut 37 upon its thread. ,7

The objects and nature of the invention having been set forth and an illustrative embodiment thereof described in detail, the

operation will now be clearly understood.

3 When the engine is operating under load as when an automobile is traveling or an aeroplane is in flight, the main control lever 28 is swungidownwardly from the position shown in. the drawing, thus. opening'the butterfly throttle valve 9 and admitting the fuel mixture from the carburetor to the intake manifold. Under running conditions, the inixure of the fuel may becontrolled by manual adjustment of the auxiliary lever 32, thusc ontrolling the. butterfly control valve 17 to admit air to the intake manifold. By means of such manualadjustment, the mixture is readily controlled to provide the fuel mixture best adapted for the engine when operating under load. Under running conditions, the engine requires a leaner fuel mixture and consequently the control valve "1 7 will be openedtoadmit air through the auxiliary air pipe-15. Thus, it will be seen that both the main throttle valve 9 and the auxiliary valve 17' may be independently manually controlled when valve 9 is in open or partially open position. I

Suppose now that it-isdesired to stopt'h automobile'or to land the aeroplane or other air craft, the operatormoves the main control lever 28 to adjust the throttle valvel) to idling position. During this movement, the operating lug or nut '37 contacts with the sleeve 22 thus automatically adjusting the auxiliary .air; control valve 17 vto its initial closed position. I This actuation automatically sets the fuel control. system to supply the proper mixture of fuel to the engine while idling. Since a richer mixture is required for this purpose, the'auxiliary air valve is moved' to closed position while the throttle valve 9 is closed or nearly closed admittingjust enough fuel to the engine to cause it to idle or run slowly. The adjustment of the carburetor is also now correct for supplying the proper mixture for starting the'engine or accelerating it from its idling-condition. It will, therefore, be seen that whenever the main fuel control throttle is adjusted to idling position, the carburetor is automatically adjusted to supply idling or starting mixture without any effort or the exercising of memory on the part of the operator. I

adjacentend of the sleeve link 22 may rest, This feature is of great practical im-- portance in the operation of automobiles or aeroplanes because i when the 1 throttle T is 1 moved to idling position, theycorrect idling mixture is automatically supplied andthe 1 tendency to Step orstall the enginepremm turely thus 'diminished in a11very material degree. 1 The carburetor ad us tment 11s 3 also a a correct fol-supplying? starting mixture and thetendency to stall at starting isialso materially diminished. This is of particularrim: port-ance "inlthe operationwof aeroplanes WllGIlii] istaken into considerationflthatja stall 1 or deadstick in attempting a landing is likely to result in agcasualtyv Fun thermoregr. in 1 the operation of aeroplanes it is found necessary 'towadjustlthe mixture at the higher altitudes and this may {be readily accomplished in 11 the improved fuel control 1 1 mechanism* by manual 1 control of the aux iliary air valve 17. Furthermore; when the throttle is: closedrt fiidling-position after such 1 adjustment, the mixturemisiautomatically controlled to starting value. 1 1

: ::In the embodiment iof theyinvention shown in Fig. 2, the general principles of the fuel controlsystem arethesame, but in this case the sleeve 1 link 22 is connected for controL ling theqfuelsupplyto the carburetor 7 by means of an operating lever 19 connected at one end as at 38 to the carburetor for; controlling: the fuel fiow; thereto; The other end of the operatingWlever is connected through the bifurcated 1 end- 2O" tol the "lug trol of the mixture suppli'edqto the 1 engine will be exerted as in the other embodiment to 1automatica lly supply idling or starting' mixture when the throttle Valve is moved to idling or starting position; :The operation of' this 1form of the inventionlvvill therefore 1 be: fully understood without further detailed description. ,It Will be understood furthen more that the auxiliary control for. the fuel mixture'may jbe eXerted by control both upon the carburetor or fuel flow thereto and upon flow of air through the auxiliary. inlet. 1

S1nce certainchanges may be made 111 the i 1 above construction and different embodimentsofthe invention could be made vvithout departing from the scope thereof, it 1s intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the acco1npanying drawingshall be interpreted as il lustrative and not in alimiting sense;

Having described my invention hat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a fuel control system for internal 1combustion engines, in combination, means for controlling fuel flow :to the engine, mixture controllingmeans controlled automatically by said flow controlling means When the latter is controlled to reduce fuel flow to correspondingly vary the mixture of the fuel to adapt it, for the reduced fuel flow,

and nean's whereby fsaid flow 11 controlling 1 means, when being 1 adjusted to increase the fHGl fiOW, isfinactive to control saidlmixturecontrolling means. 1 1 1 "2. In afuel control system combustion engines, in combination, means for controlling fuel flowto. theengine, mixture controlling means controlled 1automati for 1 internal cally *by' said flow controlling 1 meansonIy whenthe latteris controlled to reduce fuel flow to insureia corresponding"variation in the mixture o frthe fuel to adapt it for the reduced fuel fiow,;andnmeans wherebywsaid mixture controlling means maybe manually operated to11vary the mixture independently said mixture varying means to supplyi dling mintureoperable onlyvvhen said flow1controllmg means 1s achustedlmto dlmg pos1- 4. In afuel control system for internal combustion werrgines, in combination, means for controlh'ngfuel flow to-the eng1ne,1n1xture controlling means; forivarying niizrture 1 of 1 the. fuel to adapt t) for 1 different loperat- 1 111g condltlons, meansj exerting automatic control upon said mixture controlling means to 1 supply Jldhngw m xture when said flow controllmg[means 1s ad usted into "1dl1ng position, and means whereby said fiow controlling means when "being adjusted to increase :the fuel fiOW 1s 1 inactive to control said mixture controlling :means; 51: 1 1

i 5. 1 a fuelvcontrol 'systemfor internal "combustlonl engines, 1n comb1nat1on, means whereby said mixturecontrolling means may-be manually operated to: vary the mix- =3LIn a fuel'wcontrol system for internal combustion engines, in combination, means for controllingfifuel ilow to the engine, means for varyingmixtureof the fuelto adapt it for different operating conditions, and means 1 exerting automatic controltpon turerindependently of" said flow controlling meansg 1 i 1 11 1 1: i a

6.Infa fuel control system for internal combustionengines; in GOHlblllittlOH; means for controlling fuel flow to the engine, .niixing conditions, means 'enerting autoinatic controlupon said mixture controlling means to supply ldllngflnlxtule when said flow controlling means adjusted intoidling position, means whereby said flow controlling meanswhen' being adjusted to increase thefuel fiovv is inactive; to control said mixture controlhng means ,-jand meanswhereby ture controlling means for varying mixture of the fuelrto adapt it for different operatto the intake T manifold, valve operating means under controlof an operator for con trolling said; valve, means for. controlling the mixture .of the fuel passing tot-he engine, operating means for said mixture controlling means automatically controlled to provide idling mixture when said valve operating means isadjust'ed toidling position, and means whereby said valve operating means may beadjusted in. valve opening direction independently of operation of said mixture controlling means. a

8. In a-fuel control system for internal combustion engines, in combination, a fuel control valve for controlling passage of fuel to the intake manifold, valve operating means under control of an operator for controlling said valve, means for controlling the mixture of the fuel-passingto the engine, operating meanslfor said mixture'controlling means automatically controlled to provide idling mixture when said valveop,- erating means is adjusted to idling position, means whereby said valve operating means may be adjusted in valve opening direction independently of operation of said mixture. controlling means, -and means whereby said mixture controlling means may be-independently adjusted to vary'the mixture when said valve operating means'is in valve opening position. I f

9. Ina fuel control system for internal combustion engines, incombination, a fuel control valve for controlling passage of fuel to the intake manifold, valve operating means under controlof an operator for controlling 'said valve and includin-gan 'oper 'ating link, means for controlling the fuel mixture including a mixture; controlling valve, controlling means including a link for-controlling said mixture valve, and an adjustable one-way operating connection between said links: whereby said mlxture controlling means is adjustable to an initial position when said fuel valve operating means is adjusted to an initial position.

10. Ina fuel control system for internal combustionengines, in combination, a fuel control valve for controlling passage of fuel to the intake manifold, valve operating means under control ofan operator for controlling said valve and including any operating link, means for controlling the fuel mixture including an auxiliary air inlet and a mixture controlling valve therefor, controlling means including a sleeve link slidable upon said first-mentioned linklfor controlling said'mixture valve, and a connection between said links whereby said mixture controlling means is adjusted to an initial position when 'saidfuel valve operating means is adjusted to an initial position.

11. In a fuel control system for internal combustion engines, in combination, a fuel control valve for controlling passage of fuel to the. intake manifold, valve operating means under control of an operator for controlling said valve and including an oper ating link, means for controlling the fuel mixture including a mixture controlling valve, controlling means including a sleeve link slidable upon said first-mentioned link for controlling said mixture'valve, and an adjustable one-way operating connection between saidlink and said sleeve link whereby said mixture controlling means may be adjusted to provide an idling mixture when said fuel valve operating means is adjusted to idling position. i

12. In fuel control system for internal combustion engines, in combination, fuel supply means comprising means. for controlling-the fuel mixture and means for controlling the fuel i flow, said flow control means being operable automatically to control the mixture of said fuel during flow variations in one direction, but inoperable to control said mixture during fiowvariations in the other direction.

'13. In fuel control system for internal combustion engines, in combination, means for controlling fuel flow to the engine and means for adjusting the mixture of said fuel, both of said means being normally operable independently of each other and other means functioning upon reduction of said fuel supply "to vary correspondingly the mixture of the fuel toadapt it for the reduced fuel supply.- 7

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

MILLER REESE HUTCHISON. 

